Both the Guardian and the Telegraph report this morning that Balfour Beatty is back in the frame, despite its role as a partner in the failed Metronet firm, to renewing its PPP contract with TfL.

The Guardian quotes Graham Stringer MP's comment on the situation:

"The transport secretary said that the real penalty in all of this should be to the reputation and future contracts of the contractors and shareholders. This news shows that to be not true ... Given the way that the PPP was operated, London Underground should be looking for completely new contractors."

This move simply beggars belief. Ruth Kelly's words have been shown to mean little. It is essential now that the terms of the contracts being put in front of Balfour Beatty are made public, so that Londoners can know what liabilities they are being signed up to.

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